LGBTQ rights in Amazonas

LGBTQ rights in Amazonas
Location of Amazonas in Brazil.
Legal statusLegal since 1830,[1] age of consent equalised
Gender identityGender change allowed, official standard for altering legal sex doesn't require surgery since 2018[2]
MilitaryAllowed to serve openly[3]
Discrimination protectionsSince 2006[4]
Family rights
Recognition of relationshipsSame-sex marriage since 2013[5]
AdoptionLegal since 2015[6]

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) rights in the Brazilian state of Amazonas have had significant legal advances in recent decades.[7] Homosexuality has been legal in the state, as well as throughout Brazil, since 1830.[1]

Legality

In 1830, Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro I sanctioned the Imperial Penal Code, removing all references to sodomy from Brazilian law.[1][8]

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Amazonas since 2013 via a decision by the National Council of Justice, in compliance with a previous decision of the Supreme Federal Court in 2011.[5] Between 2020 and 2025, there was a 328% increase in same-sex marriages in the state, with 287 unions registered in 2024 and 98 in the first five months of 2025.[9][10][11]

In November 2012, a judge from the Amazonas Court of Justice ruled that a same-sex couple could adopt a child in the state, making them the first couple to do so.[6] In 2015, the Supreme Federal Court legalized same-sex adoption nationwide.[12]

Discrimination protections

Since 2006, Amazonas has included discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in its state policies.[4][13] Furthermore, homophobia and transphobia have been criminalized nationwide since 2019, making them equivalent to the crime of racism.[14]

In 2021, the Amazonas State Public Defender's Office (DPE-AM) established the Sexual Diversity, Gender Identity and Citizenship Working Group (Portuguese: Grupo de Trabalho Diversidade Sexual, Identidade de Gênero e Cidadania) focused on human rights violations and training of security agents.[15]

In 2023, the Legislative Assembly of Amazonas signed Law 6,176/2023 (Portuguese: Lei 6.176/2023) authored by state deputies Sinésio Campos (PT) and Nejmi Aziz (PSD), which institutes the State Week of Visibility and Promotion of Rights of the LGBTQIA+ Population (Portuguese: Semana Estadual da Visibilidade e Promoção de Direitos da População LGBTQIA+).[16]

In August 2024, the Amazonas State Court of Justice (TJAM) released the booklet Home is a Right! (Portuguese: Lar é Direito!) aimed at LGBTQ youth who have been expelled from their homes. The booklet also states that conversion therapies are "prohibited and ineffective."[17]

Transgender rights

In March 2018, the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court unanimously ruled that transgender people may change their legal gender without undergoing surgery or hormonal therapy, which were previously requirements. A transgender individual seeking to change their gender to reflect their gender identity can now simply apply to do so at a registry post in the country, without the need of a judicial document or any medical report.[18] It was reported that by 2024 the percentage of gender changes in official documents at registry offices increased by 59%.[2]

In November 2023, the Public Defender's Office of the State of Amazonas opened a process to monitor public health services for transgender and transvestite people, including the provision of hormones and surgeries.[19]

In August 2024, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) recommended that the state of Amazonas formally enable outpatient and hospital services for the transsexualization process, including sexual reassignment surgeries, establishing deadlines for approval and presentation of these proposals to the Ministry of Health.[20]

Non-binary gender recognition

Amazonas does not have specific laws recognizing non-binary gender. In 2022, Álex Souza de Sá became the first non-binary person in the state to receive recognition at a notary's office, having their documents rectified in the state of Rio de Janeiro.[21][22] After arriving in the state's capital, Manaus, Álex discovered that the notary's office where they were registered did not have a gender-neutral marker. After six months of insistence, they appealed to the state's Public Defender's Office and obtained recognition of their documents.[21][22]

Censorship

Gender-neutral language ban in schools

State Law No. 6,463/2023 (Portuguese: Lei Estadual nº 6.463/2023) prohibited the use of gender-neutral language in public and private schools.[23] The law was proposed by state deputy Débora Menezes (PL) and approved by the Legislative Assembly of Amazonas with 14 votes in favor and 4 against.[24]

The National LGBTI Alliance and the Brazilian Association of Homotransaffective Families (Abrafh) filed an ADI (Direct Action of Unconstitutionality) with the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to overturn the law. The entities claimed that State Law No. 6,463/2023 is unconstitutional because "it invades the National Congress's authority to legislate on educational guidelines and bases".[25]

On 29 May, Justice Flávio Dino suspended the state law through an injunction and responded to the entities:[26]

In the absence of national legislation regarding gender-neutral language, any state, district, or municipal legislation that authorizes or prohibits its use will be tainted by the defect of formal unconstitutionality, as is the case with the legislation analyzed in these proceedings. There is no doubt that language is alive, always open to new possibilities in different spaces and times, so the possibility of using gender-neutral language cannot be ruled out.

In July 2024, the Supreme Court justices confirmed Dino's decision and blocked the enforcement of state law.[27]

On 27 December 2026, the Supreme Court officially struck down the law.[28][29]

Social media

On 17 October 2024, the Legislative Assembly of Amazonas enacted a law prohibiting "the reproduction of digital media that uses children linked to homosexuality."[30] The law was proposed by the state deputy Carlinhos Bessa (PV-AM) and approved with 21 votes in favor, none against, and 3 abstentions.[31]

On 13 December 2025, the law was amended through bill 816/2024, also proposed by Carlinhos Bessa, removing the term "homosexuality". Since then, current law prohibits "the reproduction of sexual content linked to children in cultural and artistic media."[31]

Pride parades

State Law 6,469/2023 (Portuguese: Lei Estadual 6.469/2023) prohibits the participation of children and adolescents in pride parades, establishing fines of up to R$10,000 in case of non-compliance with the law.[32]

Life conditions

Demographics

A 2019 survey conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) revealed that at least 60,000 adults in Amazonas declared themselves homosexual or bisexual. This figure is equivalent to 2.7% of the state's population, where 2.5 million (94.1%) declared themselves heterosexual, in addition to 1.7 million who stated they did not know their sexual orientation and 3.6 million who did not want to answer.[33]

In Manaus, among 1.5 million inhabitants aged 18 or over, 1.4 million (93.4%) declared themselves heterosexual; 46 thousand (3.0%) homosexual or bisexual, and 56 thousand people (3.6%) did not know or did not want to answer about their sexual orientation.[33]

Anti-LGBTQ violence

According to research from the Brazilian Journal of Public Security, cases of violence against LGBTQ in the state are underreported.[34] According to data from the Brazilian Public Security Forum, cases of violence against LGBTQ people have increased, with 43 cases registered.[35]

On 5 July 2025, Fernando Vilaça de Souza was beaten and killed after reacting to homophobic insults in Manaus.[36][37] The Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship, the Order of Attorneys of Brazil and federal deputy Erika Hilton expressed regret over the incident.[36] According to residents of the area, Fernando was previously being bullied by other young people in the region.[36]

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal Yes (Since 1830)
Equal age of consent Yes (Since 1830)
Anti-discrimination laws in employment only Yes (Since 2006)[4]
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services Yes (Since 2006)[4]
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (Incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) Yes (Since 2006)[4]
Same-sex marriages Yes (Since 2013)
Recognition of same-sex couples Yes (Since 2011)
Stepchild adoption by same-sex couples Yes (Nationwide since 2015)
Joint adoption by same-sex couples Yes (Starting in 2012; Nationwide since 2015)
LGBTQ people allowed to serve openly in the military Yes
Freedom of expression Yes/No (Restricted in pride parades since 2024)[32]
Right to change legal gender Yes (Since 2008; gender self-determination since 2018)[2]
Third gender option Yes/No (Partially recognized in a specific case)[21][22]
Conversion therapy by medical professionals banned Yes (Since 1999 for homosexuals and since 2018 for transgender people)[38][39]
Access to IVF for lesbians Yes
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples No (Banned for any couple regardless of sexual orientation)
MSMs allowed to donate blood Yes (Since 2020)[40]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "LEI DE 16 DE DEZEMBRO DE 1830" [LAW OF 16 DECEMBER 1830]. www.planalto.gov.br. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Amazonas registra aumento de 59% nas mudanças de gênero em cartórios em 2024" [Amazonas registers a 59% increase in gender changes at registry offices in 2024]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 29 January 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  3. ↑ do Amaral Jorge, Marcos (25 June 2025). "Presença de grupos LGBT no exército brasileiro ainda enfrenta resistências, sugere pesquisa". Jornal da Unesp (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 8 May 2026. Ele ressalta que a proibição a qualquer tipo de discriminação, tal como assegurada pela Constituição Federal, implica que, de um ponto de vista prático e normativo, não haja qualquer veto à presença de pessoas gays, lésbicas ou bissexuais nas forças armadas. [He emphasizes that the prohibition of any type of discrimination, as guaranteed by the Federal Constitution, implies that, from a practical and normative point of view, there is no veto on the presence of gay, lesbian, or bisexual people in the armed forces.]
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Lei Ordinária nº 3079/2006 de 02/08/2006" [ORDINARY LAW NO. 3079/2006 OF 02/08/2006] (PDF). dh.sdh.gov.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  5. 1 2 D'Agostino, Rosanne (14 May 2013). "Entenda o casamento gay em cartório" [Understand gay marriage in the registry office]. g1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Pela 1ª vez no Amazonas, guarda de criança é concedida a casal gay" [For the first time in Amazonas, child custody is granted to a gay couple]. g1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 21 November 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "LGBT Rights in Amazonas, Brazil". Equaldex. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  8. ↑ "Brazil - BRAZZIL - Gays in the early 1900s in Brazil - Homosexualism in Brazil - March 2000". www.brazzil.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  9. ↑ "Amazonas registra aumento de 239% em casamentos homoafetivos em 2023" [Amazonas registers a 239% increase in same-sex marriages in 2023]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 4 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  10. ↑ Gabriel, Juan (28 June 2025). "Dia do Orgulho LGBTQIA+: casamentos homoafetivos crescem 328% em cinco anos no Amazonas" [LGBTQIA+ Pride Day: Same-sex marriages increase by 328% in five years in Amazonas]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  11. ↑ "Cartórios do AM registraram crescimento de 328% nos casamentos homoafetivos nos últimos cinco anos" [Notary offices in Amazonas state recorded a 328% increase in same-sex marriages in the last five years]. Anoreg/AM (in Brazilian Portuguese). 30 June 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  12. ↑ Rover, Tadeu (20 March 2015). "Cármen Lúcia reconhece adoção, sem restrição de idade, por casal gay" [Cármen Lúcia recognizes adoption, without age restriction, by a gay couple]. Consultor Jurídico (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "No Dia da Visibilidade Trans, Assembleia Legislativa do Amazonas destaca legislações sobre o tema" [On Transgender Visibility Day, the Legislative Assembly of Amazonas highlights legislation on the subject]. Legislative Assembly of Amazonas (in Brazilian Portuguese). 29 January 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  14. ↑ "Brazil's Supreme Court Votes to Make Homophobia a Crime". The New York Times. 23 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  15. ↑ "No Dia do Orgulho, DPE-AM lança Grupo de Trabalho para atuar em violações de direitos LGBTQIA+" [On Pride Day, DPE-AM launches Working Group to address LGBTQIA+ rights violations]. Defensoria Pública do Estado do Amazonas (in Brazilian Portuguese). 28 June 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  16. ↑ "No Dia Internacional contra LGBTFobia, conheça leis da Aleam voltadas para combater o preconceito" [On the International Day Against LGBTphobia, learn about the laws passed by the Legislative Assembly of Amazonas aimed at combating prejudice]. Legislative Assembly of Amazonas (in Brazilian Portuguese). 17 May 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  17. ↑ "Cartilha "Lar é Direito!" oferece orientações a adolescentes LGBTQIAPN+ expulsos de casa" [The booklet "Home is a Right!" offers guidance to LGBTQIAPN+ teenagers who have been kicked out of their homes]. TJAM. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  18. ↑ Alface, Felipe (3 March 2018). "Brazil transgender groups welcome landmark court rulings". Washington Blade. Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  19. ↑ "No Amazonas, Defensoria apura condições de serviços assistenciais ofertados às pessoas trans" [In Amazonas, the Public Defender's Office is investigating the conditions of assistance services offered to transgender people]. Defensoria Pública do Estado do Amazonas (in Brazilian Portuguese). 1 November 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  20. ↑ "MPF recomenda ao estado do Amazonas que garanta o atendimento de saúde integral à população LGBTQIAPN+" [The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office recommends that the state of Amazonas guarantee comprehensive healthcare services to the LGBTQIAPN+ population]. Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 28 August 2024.
  21. 1 2 3 Figueiredo, Eduardo (19 April 2022). "Pesquisadora é a primeira pessoa não-binária do Amazonas a conseguir reconhecimento em cartório; 'Oficialmente a Álex existe'" [Researcher is the first non-binary person in Amazonas to obtain legal recognition; 'Officially, Álex exists']. Agência Cenarium (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  22. 1 2 3 Júnior, Waldick (17 April 2022). "Após luta judicial, Amazonas tem primeira pessoa não binária registrada em certidão" [After a legal battle, Amazonas has its first non-binary person registered on a birth certificate]. A Crítica (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  23. ↑ "Lei Ordinária nº 6.463, de 10 de outubro de 2023" [ORDINARY LAW NO. 6,463, OF 10 OCTOBER 2023]. sapl.al.am.leg.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 10 October 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  24. ↑ Campinas, Felipe (24 March 2025). "Dino pede explicações sobre lei que proíbe linguagem neutra no AM" [Dino asks for explanations about the law that prohibits gender-neutral language in Amazonas]. Amazonas Atual (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  25. ↑ Campinas, Felipe (16 May 2024). "Entidades acionam STF contra lei que proíbe linguagem neutra no AM" [Organizations take legal action in the Supreme Court against law that prohibits gender-neutral language in Amazonas] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  26. ↑ Ramos, Feifiane (30 May 2024). "Flávio Dino suspende lei do AM que proíbe linguagem neutra nas escolas" [Flávio Dino suspends Amazonas state law that prohibits gender-neutral language in schools]. Amazonas Atual (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  27. ↑ "STF mantém suspensão de lei do AM que proíbe linguagem neutra no currículo escolar" [Supreme Court upholds suspension of Amazonas state law prohibiting gender-neutral language in school curricula]. Supreme Federal Court. Archived from the original on 9 February 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  28. ↑ "STF forma maioria para derrubar leis que proíbem linguagem neutra em escolas" [Supreme Court forms majority to overturn laws prohibiting gender-neutral language in schools]. CartaCapital (in Brazilian Portuguese). 27 February 2026. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  29. ↑ "STF invalida leis do Amazonas e de Navegantes (SC) que proibiam uso de linguagem neutra nas escolas" [Supreme Court invalidates laws in Amazonas and Navegantes, Santa Catarina, that prohibited the use of gender-neutral language in schools]. Supreme Federal Court. Archived from the original on 23 March 2026. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  30. ↑ "LEI Nº 7.127, DE 17 DE OUTUBRO DE 2024" [LAW NO. 7,127, OF 17 OCTOBER 2024] (PDF). sapl.al.am.leg.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 17 October 2024.
  31. 1 2 Alves, Gustô (26 January 2025). "Amazonas lawmakers amend 'Anti-LGBT' law after activist pressure". Agência Cenarium (in Portuguese). Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  32. 1 2 "Lei Ordinária nº 6.469, de 10 de outubro de 2023" [ORDINARY LAW NO. 6,469, OF 10 OCTOBER 2023]. sapl.al.am.leg.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 10 October 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  33. 1 2 "Ao menos 60 mil pessoas no Amazonas se declararam homossexuais ou bissexuais, revela IBGE" [At least 60,000 people in Amazonas identified as homosexual or bisexual, reveals IBGE]. A Crítica (in Brazilian Portuguese). 25 May 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  34. ↑ Pires Lima, Michele; Aquino Bezerra, César; João Carlos Marques, Dorli (1 June 2026). "CRIMES, VIOLÊNCIAS E POPULAÇÃO LGBT NO AMAZONAS" [CRIMES, VIOLENCE, AND THE LGBT POPULATION IN AMAZONAS]. Revista Brasileira de Segurança Pública. 20 (2): 12–33. doi:10.31060/rbsp.2026.v20.n2.2038. ISSN 2595-0258.
  35. ↑ "Amazonas registra aumento de crimes contra pessoas LGBTQIAPN+" [Amazonas registers increase in crimes against LGBTQIAPN+ people]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 21 July 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  36. 1 2 3 "Adolescente morre após ser espancado em Manaus; Polícia investiga bullying e homofobia" [Teenager dies after being beaten in Manaus; Police investigate bullying and homophobia]. Diário do Nordeste (in Brazilian Portuguese). 9 July 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  37. ↑ "Morte de adolescente espancado em Manaus mobiliza defensores de direitos humanos" [Death of teenager beaten in Manaus mobilizes human rights defenders]. Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 9 July 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
  38. ↑ "RESOLUÇÃO CFP N° 001/99 DE 22 DE MARÇO DE 1999" [CFP RESOLUTION NO. 001/99 OF 22 MARCH 1999] (PDF). site.cfp.org.br (in Brazilian Portuguese).
  39. ↑ "RESOLUÇÃO Nº 1, DE 29 DE JANEIRO DE 2018" [RESOLUTION NO. 1, OF 29 JANUARY 2018] (PDF). site.cfp.org.br (in Brazilian Portuguese).
  40. ↑ "Após decisão do Supremo, Hemocentro de Brasília muda protocolos e aceita doação de sangue de homens LGBT" [Following a Supreme Court decision, the Brasília Blood Center changes its protocols and accepts blood donations from LGBT men]. G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 19 June 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.